Shoe-heel protector.



No. 730,971. I PATBNTED JUNE 16; 1903.

l L. F. RIEMER.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES: I

1 A TTORNE Yf.

THE Mom-us PEIEPS co. PNoYouTHou wnsumsrou. n. c.

UNITED STATES.

Patented June I6, 1903.

LOUIS F. RIEMER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SHOE-HEEL PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,971, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed March 5, 1903 Serial No. 146,269. (No model.)

To aZZ whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS F. RIEMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Heel Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe-heel protectors for infants shoes.

The object of my invention is to provide a device for protecting the rear portion of the sole and upper of-childrens shoes and which is adapted to be put on shoes after they have been completed.

It will be understood that these protectors are manufactured and placed upon the market separate from the shoes and that the dealers secure them to the shoes when requested so to do by the purchaser and use them for repairing old shoes where worn, when they not only protect the heel and rear portion of the upper from being worn, but also support the rear portion of the upper and retain it in its proper shape.

The construction of my invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of a shoe provided with my improved heel-protector. Fig. 2 represents a bottom view. Fig. 3 is a top view partly broken away to show the construction of the heel-counter. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section drawn on line 00 a: of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 represent bottom views of modified forms of the heel-protector. Fig. 7 represents a transverse section drawn on line 00 at of Fig. 6.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A represents the shoe proper, to which the heel-protector is attached. v

The heel-protector comprises the vertical portion B, horizontal U-shaped portion 0, horizontal tread-piece D, and lining or reinforcing-piece E. The parts B and O are formed integrally from asingle piece of leather by the usual process employed for forming heel-counters, the leather being first wet and pressed into the required shape, when it is dried and remains permanently in'such shape.

In View of the fact that these heel-protectors are manufactured preparatory to being placed upon shoes at a future time, the exact measurements of which are not at hand, it becomes necessary to make them slightly adjustable in size to conform to the slight differences in size of the shoes to which they are afterward attached. To accomplish this object, the tread-piece and lining of the heelprotector are provided with a longitudinal slit F, which is formed at an oblique angle to the surface, so as to permit the opposing edges of said slit to overlap and remain in contact when. the respective sides are slightly separated, and which will also permit the respective sides to overlap slightly when bringing the respective sides of the slit toward each,

other,whereby the protectors may be expanded slightly when required to fit the larger It will of course be understood that in some.

instances the heel-protectors will fit the shoes perfectly without adjustment, in which case the slits F- and aperture G may be dispensed with. It will also be understood that the tread-piece D, counters comprising parts B and C, and the reinforcing-piece E are when made secured in place, as indicated in Fig. 7, by the ordinary leather cement. When, however, the protectors are placed upon a shoe, they are secured to the heel by ordinary heel-nails, as indicated in Fig. 5.

While the lining or reinforcing-piece E adds strength to the device and is preferably used as shown, it may, if desired, be dispensed with.

It will be understood that theslit F is.

formed without removing any portion of the tread-piece.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'1. Aheel-protector comprising a horizontal tread-piece, provided with alongitudinal central slit formed at an angle to the surface thereof and extending rearwardly from its front edge toward, and terminating near its rear edge in combination with a counter, substantially as set forth.

2. A heel protector comprising a treadpiece, provided with a longitudinal slit formed at an oblique angle to the surface thereof and extending from its front ed 2e rearwardly, and terminating in a perforation located at the rear extremity thereof in combination with a counter, substantially as set forth.

3. A heel-protector comprising a horizontal tread-piece, provided with a longitudinal oblique slit extending rearwardly from its front edge toward, and terminating near its 

